Combined washer and dehydrator



Dec. 29, 1931. H. c. EDDY 1,833,916

COMBINED WASHER AND DEHYDRATOR Filed Dec. 7, 1929 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 -m1111151!) STATES PATENT OFFICE y HAROLD G. EDDY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PETROLEUM RECTIFY- ce.Lrivornmrnv ING COMPANY O F CALIFORNIA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.,` AVCORPORATION OF 'COMBINED WASHER AND DEHYDRATOR .Application filed December 7, 1929. Serial No. 412,400.

My invention relates to a novel vwashing device, and more particularly to a .washing device which finds particular utility in direct or indirect combination with an electrical dehydrating apparatus.

It is old to introduce a fluid tobe washed into a body of washing medium allowing the fluid to rise or fall through this medium to effect a Washing thereof. Such a method is, however, open to objection/inasmuch as the fluid to be washed forms a vertically moving stream through the washing medium. If the fluid is discharged from a nozzle, the stream thus formed is in the form of a vertical filament of the iuid which displaces a portion of the washing medium. The washing action is relatively limited due to the fact that the only contact vbetween the iiuid filament and the washing medium lies at the surface of the lament so that those particles-of the fluid positioned in the: center of the filament are not Washed. l f

One way of securing a greater area of contact is to move the nozzle relative to the washing medium during the time that the fluid is being injected thereinto. If this nozzle is moved horizontally in a circular path, it is possible to form a cylindrical stream of the. iuid which moves vertically through the Washing medium, the diameter thereof being Adetermined by the path of travel of the noz'- zle. Such a cylindrical sheet of fluid is much superior to the single fluid filament previously mentioned.v

It is an object of this invention to provide a washing apparatus in which the iiuid is introduced through one or more moving nozzles. A very definite channelling action takes place when a stationary nozzle is utilized, the fluid beingdischarged into the identical ath followed by the fluid previously expe led.

Similarly, with a moving nozzle which rev traces its paths over a given cycle it is possible to complete this cycle before the iuid dis- Y charged on the previous cycle has had time to oravitationally move from the vicinity, thus 'forming a sheetl of the fluid moving through the washing medium.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus forwashing a Huid in a washing medium in which objectionable channellmg action is greatly reduced and in .some cases actually eliminated.

I have found that channelling is eliminated and a maximum washing action obtained if ythe movement of the nozzle is so slow that f before the nozzle has time to complete a cycle,

the fiuid expelled therefrom on the previous cycle will have had time to gravitationally .move from the vicinity of the nozzle, so that should be noticed that there is little or no 1 tendency for any particle of the fluid toiiow 1n thedirection of the axis of this helical stream at any point and thus escape contact .with the washing medium. This is becauseof the fact Ithat the predominating tendencyA for such aparticle offluid is'to move in a vertical direction. This tendency causesthe helical stream of iuid'to move vertically through the body of washingmedium. 'Such continuously displace the washing medium throughtwhich the stream passes, thusnot only offering innitely more surfacey of contact between the fluid and the surrounding(- medium, but also settingup an agitation which I have found to be extremely desirable.- The vertical channelling prevalent when the nozzle is stationary or when moved Vtoo fast isthus prevented. y

It sanfobject of this invention to `provide a'method and apparatus for washing a fluid in a washing medium whereby the yfluid rises through the medium in the-form of'a helix.'

v In addition, I have found it possible to greatly increase, the washing action by using l a rotatable spray means with thenozzles dist posed at dierent radial distances from the axis .of rotation thereof, and it is an objectof Aa vertical movementyof a sloping stream will this invention to provide an apparatus where this increased action is present.

My washer finds particular utility in the field of electrical dehydration of petroleum emulsions for the purpose of removing water-rich masses from the oil emulsion, for the removal of colloidal matter, and the breaking up of loosely held emulsions before subjecting them to the action of the electric field, and for the purpose of illustration I shall disclose one type of apparatus which I have found very valuable for use in this art. This apparatus comprises a tank incorporating both the electrical dehydrating apparatus and the washing means, and certain features of this combination are in themselves novel and form a part of the present invention.4

It is thus another object of this invention to provide a washing means which is novel both in itself and in combination with an electrical dehydrating apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a combined dehydrator and washing device of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 242 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the nozzle means disclosed in Fig. 1.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, I utilize a shell 10 closed at its upper and lower ends by a cover 11 and a bottom 12 respectively so as to form a tank 13. The interior of this tank is divided into a treating chamber 14 and a settling chamber 15 by a conical plate 16 extending across the tank with apex upward. This plate is slightly smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the shell 10 so as to provide an annular space 18 therebetween, the plate 16 being supported by brackets 19 extending across this annular space and being secured both to the plate 16 and the shell 10.

Extending upward from the apex of the plate 16, a'nd communicating with the settling chamber 15 is a central or primary electrode 20 in the form of a pipe, to the upper end of which is attached a nozzle 21 having a skirt 22 and extending downward around the electrode 20. The fluid to be treated rises through the electrode 20, as indicated by arrows 23, and passes through openings 25 formed in the electrode 2O inside the skirt 22 so that this skirt directs the fluid downward in the immediate vicinity of the central electrode 20, as indicated by arrows 26. A rod 27 tends to support the upper end of the electrode 20 and extends between the nozzle 21 and the cover 11.

Surrounding the central electrode 2O is a sleeve or secondary electrode 30 which cooperates with the primary electrode n defining a treating space 31. The sleeve electrode is mounted on rods 32 which extend into insulators 33, one of these rods being connected to the secondary of a high voltage transformer 34, the other terminal of this secondary being connected to the tank 13. A high potential electric ield is thus set up in the treating space 31, this field being effective in agglomerating the dispersed phase of the emulsion rising through the central electrode 20.

If this emulsion is of the water-in-oil type, the water particles agglomerate and gravitationally separate from the dry oil, this dry oil moving upward into the upper portion of the tank 13 and being removed through a pipe 35.' The agglomerated water particles drop downward onto the upper surface 'of the plate 16 whence they are guided through the annular passage 18 and into the settling chamber 15.

This water which is separated from the emulsion forms a body of washin medium, the upper surface of which is in icated by the line W--W of Fig. 1. This level may be visually indicated by the usual level-indicatin gauge 38 communicating with the interior of the tank 13 at points above and below the desired level. This level is oontrolled by the amount of water withdrawn through a pipe 39 communicating with the lower portion of the settling chamber.

The emulsionto be treated is introduced into the tank 13 through a pi pe 40 extending thereinto and providing a vertical leg 41 to which is journalled a pipe 42 connected to a spray means 43. This spray means is below the level W-W and includes one or more arms 44, each of which is in communication with the interior of the pipe 42 so that the emulsion supply thereto is equally distributed to each of the arms 44.

Each arm carries one or more nozzles 45 and if a plurality of arms is utilized the nozzles on each arm are disposed at different radial distance from the axis of the ipe 42. In the ordinary size of tank I have ound it possible to utilize a plurality of nozzles on each arm, as shown for instance in Fig. 2. It will be noted that each of the nozzles 45 is directed tangentially so that the emulsion forced through the pipe 40 exerts a reaction on the spray means 43 tending to rotate this means in a direction indicated by the arrow 49 of Fig. 2. The speed at which this spray means turns is controlled by a pressure-control valve 50 in the pipe 40.

In first starting the operation of the treater, it is usually desirable to fill the tank to the level W-W with water and the remaining portion of the tank with dry oil. The emulsion is then forced through the pipe 40 and is discharged into the body of washing medium by means of the nozzles 45. The speed of rotation of the spray pipe is so regulated that the stream formed by any particular nozzle during one revolution will have moved upward in the body of washing medium a. suiiicient distance so that the new fluid introduced at this point on the subsequent revolution will not be introduced into the same stream previously formed. In other words, each nozzle 45 forms a helical stream of the fluid .to be washed in the body of washin medium, and the lead of .this helix is suicie-nt so that adjacent sections of -the stream are separated by a body of the washing medium. A similar concentric helix is formed by each of the nozzles 45`and all of the helices move upward through the body of washing medium 1n spaced relationship, `the emulsion being thoroughly washed and rising toward the apex of the plate 16.

From here the emulsion rises through the central electrode and is discharged into the treating chamber as previously described, the Water particles being therein agglomerated after which they drop to the settling chamber 15 and serve to renew the supply7 of washing medium in the lower ortion of the tank 13, the excess amount o washing medium being drawn olf through the pipe 39.

While I have shown my settling device in combination with the electrical dehydrator, it should be clear that I am not limited to this particular embodiment. It is entirely possible, and in certain instances desirable, to position the dehydrating apparatus in a tank separate "from the tank enclosing the washing apparaus of my invention. Furthermore, the washing means is not limited. to use with electrical dehydration apparatus nor with the treated or untreated products used or formed therein, but is also applicable to any washing action wherein a -uid is to be washed by a washing medium. v

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: a tank; a plate extending substantially across said tank and dividing the interior thereof into a treating chamber and a settling chamber in communication through anannular space around said plate;

means for establishing an electric field in said v treating chamber; passage means for conducting fluid from the top ofsaid settling chamber into said treating space, a portion of said fluid falling, after treatmentto said settling chamber to form a stratified body of washing medium; and means for introducing the fluid to be treated into said settling chamber below said body of washing medium, said fluid to be treated rising therethroughand being conducted linto said electric field through said passage means.

2. In combination: a'tank; a plate extending substantially across said tank and dividing the interior thereof into a treating chamber and a settling chamber in communication through an annular space around said plate;

said plate and communicating with the settling chamber therebelow.; a secondary electrode adjacent said' primary electrode and cooperating therewith in defining a treating space; nozzle means on said primary electrode for introducing fluid fromsaid settling chamber into said treating space where it is subjected to an electric field, a portion therei of dropping to said'settling chamber to form a body of washing medium; and means for introducing the Huid to be treated into said settling chamber below said body of washing medium.

3. A method of washing a fluid of one density in a washing medium of another density, which includes the step of: introducing said fiuid into said washing medium in the form of a helical filament which moves through the washing medium due to the difference in density between said fiuid and said washing medium.

4. A method of washing a fluid of one density in a washing medium of another density, Which includes the steps of: introducing said iuid into said' washing medium through a nozzle; moving said nozzle through a closed path to discharge a stream of said fluid into said washing medium; and regulating the speed of movement of said nozzle so that streams of said fluid discharged from said nozzle on successive movements through said closed path are separated by a portion of said Washing medium rather than joining together to effect a channelling action.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said passage means comprises an electrode which cooperates in forming said electric field.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 3rd day of December, 1929.

HAROLD C. EDDY.

a primary electrode extending upward'from j 

